Automobile running-gear.



H. W. ALDEN.

AUTOMOBILE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 14, 1913. bwl fimo Patented June 30,1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET l NMNN Wzi'zzeaae x H. w. ALDEN. AUTOMOBILE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 14, 1913.

Patented. June 30, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

rscrn T. ALDEN, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO THE TIMKEN-DETRQIT LIGGMPANY, 0F DETRGIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

h lh lllfle AU'I'OIKGBILE RUNNING-GEAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3% i914.

l lgalieation filed June 14, 1913. Serial No. 773,649.

a cit. o of the United States, and a resicl nt 0; the city of letroit,in the county of r -l aync and. Stateof Michigan, have 1nrentcd new anduseful lmprovelnent in Antonio-bile Running-Gears of which the followings specification.

This invention relates to automobiles of the type wherein the drivingwheels are rotated means of shaft sections mounted in a fixed axle, oraxle housing, upon which the main frame of the vehicle is supported bysprings. ln antomobiles of the type to which this invention relates themotor is mounted on the main frame, and its power is transmitted to theshaft sections which we the wheels by means of a propeller shaftconnected to the motor by suitable l'neans at one end and opcrstivelyconnected through. angle gearin to the driving wheel shaft sections atits other end. The transmission of the driving force, or torque, fromthe motor to the driving wheel shafts through. angle gearing located onthe vehicle tends to rotate the fixed axle housing in direction oppositeto that of the driving wheelsand unless other means he pro l forpreventing the rotation of the fixed axle housing this duty falls uponthe vehicle springs. llloreover, the Weight of the end of the propellershaft and gearing connecting it to "the driving wheel shaft sectionstends to rotate the fixed axle housto sustain vertical loads clue to theWeight of the vehicle, and not to resist twisting due to rotation of theaxle, and accordmgly a special rod, called a torque arm, 18 sometimesprovided to prevent rotation oftheaxle and thereby relieve the springsof twisting stresses.

Tl s invention consists 1n an improved errangemcnt and construction ofaxle housing and torque arm for an automobile drivwheel whereby theweight of the warts. reduced without lessening their .ri-

one ohiectof the invention is to distribute springs are designedordinarily;

A further object of the invention is to enable the weight of the end ofthe propeller shaft and gearing connecting it to the driving Wheel shaftsections to be supported directly from the vehicle frame withoutsubjecting the axle housing or vehicle springs to any twisting stresses.

Further objects of the invention appear more fully in connection withthe following 60 description of the embodiment thereof shown in theaccompanying drawings and What the invention consists of is set forthpar-- ticularly in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like characters are used to designate-the sameparts in the several views,l+igure 1 is s top plan view of a portion ofthe frame-of an automobile, showing a pair of driving wheels and therunning gear end driving meansjc therefor; Fig. 2 1s an enlarged sideelevation of the torque arm and a ortion of the axle housing andpropeller aft, showing-the connections between the torque arm andvehicle frame; Fi 3vis a top plan view of the torque arm to'the samescale as Fig. 2; and Fig. l is or cross section of the'torque arm on theline 4 of Fig. 2, showing a portion of the axle housing in elevation,

Referring to the rlrswihgs,' the road wheels are rotstehly mounted stthe ends of the fixed axle housing 1.1, upon which the frame 19, issupported by means of half elliptic side springs lfisecured at theirmid- .dle points to the axle housing, and an inverted half ellipticcross spring l l secured at its middle point to a cross bar of the frameby means of a bracket '15 (and suspended .at its ends by means of links16 hung" from the adjacent ends of the side springs.- The opposite endsor the side springs are pivoted to the hangersll -whi'ch are securedtothe frame, i "Themed Wheels are driven loy half length shaft sectionsaxially arranged Within the fixed axle housing'll and extendihgEfromthewheel hubs to about the middle of the fixed axle housing; The innerends of the half length shaft sections are 'operetivelyconnected to thestub shaft 18 through equalicing gears and angle gearing arranged in thecasing 19 which is boltedto one side of the enlarged middle portion ofhe fixed axle housin Thestub shaft 18 is rotatably mounted in aprojecting portion 20 of the casing 19, herein referred to as the axlenose. This stub shaft is operatively connected to the propeller shaft 21by means of an universal joint 22, whereby there may be limited angularmovement of 'the axle nose and stub axle with respect to the propellershaft.

The fixed axle housing is held from undue rotation on its axis by meansof a torque arm 23 secured at one end to the casing 19 and supported atits other end "from the cross bar 24: of the frame. The torquemrm ismade of sheet steel flanged along its edges to give it stillness. it isarranged with its principal plane vertical, and is pivoted to the fixedaxle housing by means of a vertical pin 25 secured in clamps 26 fixed atthe ends of top and bottom forks 27 at one end of the torque arm. Thispin is journaled in a vertical socket or bushing in a lug 28 on the sideof the casing 19. The lug 28 is embraced above and below its ends by theinner faces of the end clamps 26; c

The end of the torque arm away from the fixed axle housing is providedwith a swivel fitting 29 having a lengthwise socket or bushing 30 withinwhich is journaled the swivel stem 31. The trunnions 32 of the swivelare disposed with their axis horizontal, and they are pivotally securedto the sleeve 33 which is shdaloly arranged on the vertical rod 34. Thisrod is pivotally suspended from a hanger 35 fixed to the frame cross bar24 so as to swing in a vertical plane toward and away from the fixedaxle housino. Open coil springs 36 are arranged on the rod above andbelow the sleeve 33 and are held in position by Washers at their ends.These springs hold the sleeve in its normal position on. the rod, butpermit it to slide up or down in response to sudden or excessive loadsupon the torque arm, thus cushioning the latter and reducing thestresses therein caused by shocks.

The torque arm is provided with two adjustable slides 37 fitting betweenthe converging top and bottom flanges 38 of the torque arm, and havinghorizontal bea -lugs 39 arranged above and below the l 40 which projectsfrom the side of the axle nose. These slides are clamped in adjustableosition by means of clamp bolts 41 arranged .m holes 42 in the torquearm of larger diameter than the bolts. By moving the slides along thetorque arm and keeping their outer edges against the converging top andbottom flanges thereof, a very accurate and positive adjustment of the lairing faces of the slides may he obtained. The outer edges of theslides are slightly curved so that they may roclr slightly in order thatthe bearing surfaces may seat themselves on the bearing faces of the lug40. 'llhus the Weight of the end of the propeller shaft, axle nose, stubshaft and gearing contained in the chamber 19 is borne by the torque armdirectly, and there is no tendency of these parts to rotate the fixedaxle housing.

It is evident that the forms of the several partsof the torquearmconstruction above described are capable of modification, and thisinvention is not restricted to the precise forms shown in the drawings.

What I claim as my invention lov.

1. In combination with an axle casing and frame of an automobile, atorque arm having one end pivotally connected to said axle casing andits other end pivotally sup ported on said frame, parallel ways on saidtorque arm intermediate its ends, and. a

is as folrigid projecting member on said axle easing slulably engagingsaid parallel ways.

etacombination with an axle casing and frame of an automobile, *a torquearm having. one end pivotally connected to said axle casing audits otherend pivotally supported on said frame, a transverse hearing on saidtorque arm intern'iediate its ends, and a hearing member on said axlecasing slidably engaging said transverse bearin In combination with anaxl casing and frame of an automobile, a torqie arm having one endpivotally connected to said axle casing and its other end pivotallysupported on said frame, slides adjustably mounted on said torque armintermediate its ends, with their bearing surfaces disposed in parallelrelation, and a supporting memberon axle casing slidably engaging saidhearing surfaces.

4. A pressed steel torque arm for automo biles, said torque armconsisting of a body portion tapering toward its ends from a pointintermediate thereof, a pivot conneetion at one end of said body portionand aswivel connection at its other end, and a m cross slide bearingarranged on said body near its widest point.

5. A pressed steel torque arm for automobiles, said torque armconsisting of a body portion tapering toward its ends trota pointintermediate thereof, said body portion being flanged on one side alongits top and bottom edges, and a. cross slide hearing; sealed betweensaid flanges on said body near its widest point.

l). A pressed'steel torque arm for autome lilies, said torque armconsisting of a body portion tapering toward its ends from a pointintermediate thereof, said body portion being flanged on one side alongits top and bottom edges, and a cross slide hearing;

seated between said flanges on said body near Signed at Detroit, Mich,this 7th day of its widest point, said cross slide bearing June, 1918.comprising two portions movable along said converging flanges wherebytheir distance apart may be adjusted, and means for c1anip- Witnesses:ingsaid bearing portions in adjusted posi- W. C. i V002),

ti on. LESLIE WILLIAMS.

HERBERT W. ALDEN.

